The 2024 FNB App of the Year winner has been announced as Matric Live, an innovative educational app designed to empower Grade 10 to 12 learners. The awards ceremony took place last night at Victoria Yards in Johannesburg. The winning app impressed the judges with its dynamic approach to learning through interactive video lessons, gamified study experiences, mock exam simulations, and an AI chat feature that provides instant academic support. Beyond winning the App of the Year award, Matric Live also secured victories in the Huawei Category 15 and Best Breakthrough Developer categories.
The FNB App of the Year Awards is the tech industry’s ultimate recognition for the most groundbreaking digital solutions that are poised to make a meaningful impact in South Africa and the continent. The journey to this coveted title was nothing short of intense. Finalists participated in a rigorous three-stage judging process that assessed creativity, feasibility, technical execution, and potential impact. The competition culminated in live pitches to an esteemed panel of judges, including business and technology leaders.
“We are absolutely thrilled to have won this prestigious award. The competition pushed us to our limits, from the technical judging to the live pitch. Winning the FNB App of the Year title is a significant milestone for us, and we look forward to the opportunities it will bring,” said Lesego Finger.
As part of the prize, the winning team will attend an international IT conference of their choice, valued at R250 000. Previous winners leveraged the prize to raise funds, network with global technology leaders and scale their apps to reach wider audiences.
FNB, a key partner of the competition, congratulated Matric Live for its achievement. “This year’s App of the Year winner exemplifies the innovative spirit that drives South Africa’s small businesses and entrepreneurs. Congratulations to all the winners. It’s inspiring to see many aspiring coders and budding tech entrepreneurs innovating to solve key challenges impacting the country,” said Andiswa Bata, CEO for FNB Business.
In addition to the FNB App of the Year award, the ceremony recognised outstanding achievements in various categories, offering a holistic take on the incredible talent within the African tech landscape and ecosystem. The category winners included:
Best Financial Solution – Vault22
Best Educational Solution – Mediclinic Baby
Best Health Solution – October Health
Best Agricultural Solution – FarmRanger
Best African Solution – Disney Iwájú: Rising Chef
Best Consumer Solution and Most Innovative Solution – Checkers Sixty60
Best Enterprise Solution - Eyerus App
Best Gaming Solution – Super Dragon Punch Force 3
Best Hackathon Solution – Jiinue
People’s Choice Award - Netstar
These winners, alongside Matric Live, embody the future of tech within the African continent, this will spearhead innovation across diverse sectors such as healthcare, education, financial services, and e-commerce. By tackling pressing challenges with creative, impactful solutions, they are not only advancing technology but also driving inclusivity and fuelling growth within the country’s dynamic digital economy.
Saturday Star